Teardrop

Well rats, that didn't work for some reason...maybe next time <.

Great, a back-story and family ties...sounds like you're ready to hit the ground running . Welcome aboard!

Welcome, Esper ! Looks like you have a well thought out concept already. Look forward to seeing your further participation on the forums :thumbsup:

When role-playing with others, what character traits, personalities or actions have you found to be interesting and enjoyable to RP with and/or what have you seen just not work or appear too boring to engage your character? I think the thing that I appreciate most from another player character is when they show me what they are, not tell me what to think about them. You say you are exceptionally beautiful or strikingly handsome; give me the description of your character and let me be the judge of that...you may not be my type at all :roll:. Funny prankster? Tell me a joke, see if I laugh! Moves on the battlefield that will put any who see them in awe? Meh, I might have seen better, its hard for you to judge who I've seen to declare I'd be in awe of you... I'm sure its convenient to make declarative statements, and it ensures how another views you is how you view yourself, but having someone interpret for me how I'm supposed to view this or that...I'd rather pass my own judgement based on my own thoughts, thank you 8-) Where do you find the line and when do you think it can be easily crossed while still being within the lore? What kind of advice would you give given your past experience. Personally, I have a lot of respect for people who try as hard as possible to stay within the lore. Lore can be really inconvenient sometimes, and sort of push a player into situations where they might not be %100 satisfied with their character, and it can take a bit of dedication and love for the setting to do so. Many of the inconvenient parts of lore get danced around, or bent about, or otherwise distorted a bit, and I guess that's fine...heck, I'm not paying for a person's account, who am I to demand adherence to this or that? I will, however, have a certain amount of expectations and preconceptions on what sort of roleplay experience I will have with that person, based on how far away the lore is strayed from. Some may find it a lot of fun and refreshing to interact with, but personally, I'm not really expecting a whole lot out of Boxcutter Bananahammock, even after its explained to me he's a half-roegadyn/half-granok who was adopted by a long-practicing family of lala shelf-stockers, that worked in a famous sleep-furniture emporium in Ul'dah...all the usual character concepts are visited (half this/half that? *check*. Adopted? *check* Non-racial parents who don't follow naming convention? *check*), but this one may push it a little too far :lol: Don't make it hard for me to suspend my disbelief...help me believe in you!

You know, I made a conscientious effort to keep my example and argument within the game's realm and away from the obvious (yet appropriate) real life parallels, because I just didn't want to open that can of worms...others can venture forth where I had chosen not to tread, though But again, I will summarize, at least in game based on the lore, what I feel is the current situation. There have been a couple remarks to the fact that the level of conflict probably isn't currently all that great, or the majority of Elezen (either clan) don't harbor such ill will in the majority, be it as a result of living with others, or a simple mellowing over time. I simply don't think the comments in the lore bear that concept out. There was conflict between Elezen and Hyur in the past, and the lore actually mentions the fact that their relations have improved to the point where they can work and live in peace (this is where things probably more along the lines of Kyatai's comment regarding " talking segregation and hostilities...taking place hundreds of years ago- not mere 40'.) ...but that is not the case with the Wildwood and Duskwights. The feelings are presented as being current in the lore, not past tense (the situations that caused the strain may be past-tense, but the resulting tension isn't ). There's no reason to think the resentments might have diminished, because, unlike Hyur/Elezen, its not even implied. Again, though, its animosity, not open clan warfare. The two clans are obviously able to interact...its just a matter of how they feel about the interactions that's the issue. Supporting Kyatai's and LeCard's comments, its already in my character concept that Isobeau spends more time in, and feels more comfortable with her dealings in Ul'dah than elsewhere. The mining and goldsmith guilds are there, and it seems that gil glosses over many issues 8-). I'm not sure "oppression" would be ruthlessly stamped out in Ul'dah, because don't they have their own intimidating syndicates that like to keep everyone in line using fear and whatnot :lol: ? What I think would happen is more of a blind-eye towards anything unless it interrupts the smooth transfer of gil from customer to guild coffers . Is a vendor on merchant row going to jump out of a stall and yell "Hey, stop calling that Duskwight a 'grey', that's mean...we don't tolerate that here!"? Well, I'd think it would go more along the lines of "Hey, can you wait a minute before trying to pick that fight? We're doing business here..." . Being a military veteran of 8 years myself, and spending literally more time sleeping in a hotel in a year than my own home working around the US in my current job, I'll break out my "seen it all" chops and compare them with anyone . But I think that's one of the big problems about why this particular issue, regarding the game-lore inclusion of racial animosity, is so difficult for role-players to comfortably implement into their game-play. Real-world sensibilities seem to not be able to be left at the door, so we get situations in the community culture where its often frowned upon when someone wants to follow the obvious intention of the designers of the lore, and convolutions are made to explain away the situation...the actual role play experience of some shows that this is the case, and in actuality, most often the norm (as Twinflame pointed out in his example from RIFT). We have nothing to base the thought that citizens of Eorzea would speak out immediately as champions of diversity and not suffer or tolerate racial tension in the least...it doesn't play out in NPC conversation, and it certainly doesn't play out in the lore; the opposite is written in the lore itself. Real world sensibilities of the planet Earth might demand such response, but we can't find good example of that to be the case in Hydaelyn. Really though, its simply a matter of, like anything presented for the player to deal with as background and lore, its merely a matter of personal choice on how one chooses to deal with it. You either take it at face value, ignore it, or interpret it in various ways to fit within your concept and play style. Here, I'll even put this in blue for emphasis, so if nothing else is taken away, the above can be :roll: I'm heartened by the fact that many in this thread are welcoming the exploration of this particular aspect of the Duskwight's existence . Anyone who would read this thread would know our intention is not to become a disruptive group, but rather to stay authentic to the current situation of most Elezen as presented in the lore, and to be open to using this as a role play opportunity with not just other Duskwight and Wildwood, but with other races. " You Mi'qote seem to get along well together, and you don't understand why we don't? Let me tell you the story of my people 8-)"

Response to a comment left on my "Fate Will Find You" story (see points 3 & 4 of Kari's post above ): RE: Fate Will Find You [story] | #7 Yesterday 03:51 PM(This post was last modified: Yesterday 03:52 PM by Teardrop.) As word of the destruction wrought by Bahamut's flight of terror upon the surface of Eorzea reached the surviving clan miners, relatives and mates of those trapped below, when faced with the choice to aid those who dwelt in the nearby town, or begin the hazardous excavation along Nymeia's apron string, the remaining Elezen of Clan Mauvaix spoke as one. "We are Duskwight. Rhalgr take the surface, there are clansmen to bring home !"

Well, I think I've said what I have to say regarding the animosity aspect of Duskwight lore, and I think we have a good idea of how this whole concept might fare during actual role play. Many of you have touched upon your Duskwight's family situation in previous posts. I've hinted at the social structure of Isobeau's family in both her wiki and her "then and now" story, but I'll spell it out in a little better detail here, so that we might compare our backgrounds to see how they might be like and where they differ . Clan Mauvaix was an extended family structure, not so much because that is how I view Duskwight families might be normally, but because they conducted labor-heavy mining operations, so pooling family members into one central purpose was beneficial to them all, in order to perform works of a larger-scope than a small single-family pod might. In Isobeau's background narrative, there has been mention of at least the grandfather, father, uncle, and at least one cousin. "Clan Miners" were also referred to, who may be additional distant relatives and/or hired hands. There are almost certainly others in Isobeau's family unit (just, their life circumstances I have not detailed as of yet ). In her past, prior to the Calamity, I envisioned Isobeau to have spent most of her time underground. We don't really know if that sort of thing is indeed possible, due to the vagueness of the lore, but I see enough in some of you other's concepts to think that the general consensus is there are actual areas considered "Duskwight lands", or at least enough subterranean space that Duskwights actually could spend their time underground, vs the thought that they merely resided in shallow caves to sleep and shelter, and the remainder of their time is spent much like the Wildwood's might, ranging around upon the surface. I think there is further support to vast underground caverns and deep enclaves because the Duskwights differentiated themselves from the Wildwood Elezen through evolutionary survival adaptations made no doubt as a result of living the majority of their time underground (during the period those adaptations manifest themselves into the race). The lore also mentions , a number of Elezen sought out a life of peace and seclusion in the depths of Eorzea's caves and caverns." so one could easily assume from this passage as well that there was more than enough territory for them to retreat into the depths as a whole, and live there in their own solitude. Of course, being able to fit everybody and being able to feed everybody are two different things, and that touches upon another aspect of Duskwight lore; the struggle to survive 8-)

"As the Highlanders are a warring race, their last names tend to sound more...violent, as they will often adopt the colorful nicknames they have earned during battle." Key words highlighted...I would think Aldynn does fit, especially when you take into consideration the following note also included in the highland conventions: "Fun Fact: Some Midlanders like to joke that because Highlander names have a very Roegadyn feel to them " Aldynn sure looks Sea-Wolfie to me , and easily falls within highlander naming conventions as presented. I think SE has been fairly consistent in following the naming conventions with NPC (except for allowing them to get away with one name, but even those names pretty much follow convention ).

This could be something one Duskwight might palm to another secretly in passing...support from the shadows, if you need us, call, and we'll be there 8-)

Except they DO count, because he asked for people to vote and give their opinion, and that is the voter's opinion . The voters are voting their own opinion, not his .

I choose C; because there are already too many of that kind in these here parts... *and by that I mean, grey-skinned half-masks (see sig )* *what, did you think I meant Miqo'te? well, now that you mention it...*

Exactly this, Twinflame :roll:, thank you for taking it into another venue to further bring home the point! And this, from a member of UNITY, who would perhaps understand and experienced what it would feel like to be scorned and ridiculed in real life, yet is able to make the differentiation between game world and real world in order to role play the game with the authentic outlook on relations as defined by the lore. Of course there is room for Eva's thoughts, beliefs, mindset, and experiences in the grand scheme of things, however, because we're not the NPCs, we're the exceptional characters, and she has already lived these experiences through the course of 1.0 . Eva might be one that Isobeau sees flowing across the upper class portion of the markets, surrounded by the melting pot of Eorzea, might find herself casting envious glances toward the lighter-skinned Duskwight, wondering what it might be like to trade places, then catching enough of the dark, poisonous glares that the fair woman still received, yet seemed not to notice, from others in the plaza and think to herself no, nothing really changes at all... Now, having said all that, the adverse racial reaction can (and probably should be, for game's sake) be tempered to the point where characters can work with each other, be it with a bit of a strained tone...because the lore does not point to actual open warfare between the clans. The bad relations do not have to be played out in a disruptive way that absolutely prevents cooperation (odd-couple circumstances can be fun to RP through, no :roll:?), but it should be recognized as the prevalent tone that would most likely be encountered during interaction between the two clans. As far as no Duskwights to be found in Gridania, its easy to see through the provided lore that since they "despise the 'shackles' of urban life", as well as are seen as a "disgrace to the nobility espoused by the Wildwood", would not only be made to feel uncomfortable within that particular city-state, but would not really want to settle there to begin with :dodgy:. Kyatai, Isobeau's description hits very close to your concepts on some points...I'll be interested to read your wiki when it comes out I'll touch more on what I've conceptualized as Isobeau's family latter (gotta run at the moment...) Great discussion, folks :thumbsup:!

Eva, it seems once again you've turned in exhaustive effort for the betterment of the community as a whole, and I welcome the opportunity to converse on a topic so, how shall we say...relevant to my interests 8-). Having all the known available lore regarding the Duskwights in one convenient location makes for a handy resource, as well as a good stepping-off point for discussion. Some of the aspects of Duskwight relations with the other races (and more specifically the Wildwood) were touched upon in the cultural aspects for your character thread. To be sure, from the small amount of actual RP I've done with Isobeau, and tidbits of discussion on these forums, Duskwights are viewed in a variety of ways...sadly, seldom good :dodgy: , and in my opinion, somewhat misinterpreted. I think one of the difficult things about the Duskwight is that their racial tensions are written right into the lore, and so, as with any other aspect of lore, from the names of The Twelve, to the shape of the coastline of Eorzea, is a part of this game that anyone who would role play in FFXIV should be either prepared to accept, modify, or ignore, with the same effect as that choice would have for any other piece of official game lore. One of the things I mention in my RP directory is that for me, its not only important for me to play the lore, but the game's world as well. On earth, in real life, one should attempt to not prejudge, hold a grudge, or otherwise be anything but accepting, regardless of world history, relations between countries and cultures, etc, etc. The stigma for possessing a bigoted attitude in this day and age is a strong one. So strong, in fact, that I think it makes it difficult sometimes for people to feel comfortable in, or differentiate between, role play of those traits in a character and holding them yourself. When I say that it's important for me to play the game's world, I mean that this is one of the things that differentiate the Duskwight from the Wildwood...perhaps one of the main things, and should be considered by those who choose those races to be a legitimate and acceptable, indeed, lauded role play aspect, and recognized by people who play other races as an aspect of the Elezen character that will most likely have to be contended with at some point, over the course of normal RP exposition and discovery. To play the "bad blood" between the clans is not an attempt to be difficult or create a hostile RP environment. If it's not allowed to be explored through role play, then we're pretty much the same clan with a pallet-swap. The lore states that the current relations between the Hyur and Elezen races (read "both clans") has reached the point where both can work together "towards mutual peace and prosperity", so the typical Duskwight probably isn't drawing upon the annals of history in order to drum up any strong feelings against Highlanders and Midlanders. The situation is a bit different with regard to those of the other Elezen clan. When such things are stated in the lore, most instances point to the fact that it is the Wildwood who would look down upon the Duskwights. *note the Wildwood can't even bring himself to look in my direction :dodgy:* We can choose to role play exceptional characters (us being behind their actions make them exceptional in the first place ), and a Duskwight who goes through life and does not develop a certain amount of bitterness aimed at their Wildwood brethren I expect would be exceptional indeed, with most likely quite a different set of circumstances regarding their upbringing than the usual Duskwight youth. In this regard, Isobeau is definitely not exceptional . My Duskwight will have, and readily display, visible tension toward the Wildwood Elezen...as she has already exposed to a certain extent through previous roleplay. Why does she posses resentment against the other clan? Well, that remains to be seen, through IC exploration of the subject . I will tell you one thing, based on the wonderful RP I had adventuring alongside Vairemont and experienced first-hand...actually role playing the whole Elezen animosity angle will NOT make you any friends. With anyone else. Ever :dodgy:. The two points that I feel require the most contemplation and fleshing out with the Elezen lore in general are the following: 1: What were the circumstances that caused the Wildwood and Duskwight to split? The passages Eva shared with us points to the Duskwight seeking a life of peace and seclusion, but how did events play out that finally drove that split? 2: Why, as in one of the blurbs, do the Duskwight consider Wildwoods as "traitors"? Defined as "a person who is disloyal", synonymous with such terms as "betrayer" and "backstabber", what did the Wildwood do to earn such ill regard from us? tl: dr version: Don't be lazy...get back up there and read the whole thing :lol: !

As word of the destruction wrought by Bahamut's flight of terror upon the surface of Eorzea reached the surviving clan miners, relatives and mates of those trapped below, when faced with the choice to aid those who dwelt in the nearby town, or begin the hazardous excavation along Nymeia's apron string, the remaining Elezen of Clan Mauvaix spoke as one. "We are Duskwight. Rhalgr take the surface, there are clansmen to bring home !"

What an amazing amount of work you've put in for an initial Free Company listing . I think its an interesting organizational concept, with the potential for unique role-play opportunities. Nice job :thumbsup: .

Really love your enthusiasm...welcome aboard :thumbsup:!

Amazing talent :thumbsup:.

Pink mynk is in this year...its the new black :lol:.

(From the first time I clicked through from the link on the Misericorde linkshell listing to Jacobi's short stories, I felt there was a certain Lovecraftian-tang to your tales. The above writing does not diminish this opinion for me in the least. Sorry if you were going for the Kafkaesque...+1 )

The level of contribution on these forums is always inspiring to me, and you may find that once you start the ball rolling yourself, its an addictive experience . In addition to the helpful bits suggested to you by Xenedra, why not let the community know a little bit about your role-play preferences by filling out the form on either the Balmung or Gilgamesh Directory forum? Look forward to seeing you in game, perhaps...good luck :thumbsup: !

Hello Mynk, and welcome ! Life never seems to have the respect for game-time as it should...silly life, always trying to interrupt the important things in, er, life .

Its really up to the original poster to describe the intent within the organization's description. I think the difficulty I have with the Linkshell Hall is determining when the word "linkshell" is being used in its current form, that being the "chat-channel", or if its hold-over terminology from 1.0, and the actual intent of the organization is to ultimately be a Free Company. I've made inquiries where I've come away with answers involving both of these situations from organizations listed there, so if its unclear to you even after reading the listing, there's no real hard-fast way to know other than ask .

What... is in your character's bag? : Things that may or may not be hers, though with possession being some good fraction of the law and such, everything she has now is currently hers... :angel: What do they consider essentials for survival?: Deep shadows and good escape route. You mean possession-wise? 8-) What are their keepsakes that push them forward?: Isobeau wears an alabaster half-masque that covers the entire left side of her face, featureless save for a stylized tear-shaped diamond located near the inner corner of the left-eye socket. Though it has a bit more purpose to her than a "keepsake", its the one thing that allows her to "push forward" into a oftentimes hostile society. How much room is there for things to collect from the wild?: Not much. Beating the brush is not really her thing; she doesn't spend a lot of time out there, and things like beastman's blood don't hold much interest. The above response changes when she goes out the the wild to collect ore, however. If she goes out with the intention to gather, she brings along enough bags to carry what she went out to get. How much Gil would they carry on their person?: 42, because that's the answer to everything... If they have a chocobo they would haul...?: Themselves to where they needed to go. What kind of things would they leave behind?: Things that would not allow her to travel light, win a fight, or would hinder flight. If she could fully justify it to herself, she'd even leave behind her bulky protective armor. What would they discard that you currently keep?: All the clothing better suited for those who wield the powers of the Aether, just in case she ever wants to dabble in a little black magic...Isobeau knows she won't, and she'd toss the stuff if she could

Thanks :blush: I guess I should have marked this as "OOC comments welcome", but I'm kinda new here...don't know the rules

Wow, great read :surprise: ! Thank you for sharing that. +1